Kalapara Correspondent
Passengers in Kalapara upazila have no other options but to cross the river by boats risking their lives. Every day, thousands of passengers risk their lives to get on boats due to dilapidated condition of the boat stands. At present, this medium of transportation has become a death trap for everyone.
According to Upazila Parishad sources, there are 21 boat stands in the upazila. Of these, 7 stands are being operated through government auction collection. The Upazila Parishad and the Upazila Administration Office have leased 11 boat stands at a cost of Tk 33.90 lakh. Besides, Kalapara municipality is controlling three stands.
According to Kalapara Upazila Parishad sources, as per the terms of the tender, engine-powered boats cost Tk 4 per passenger, row boats Tk 2 per passenger, motorcycles Tk 10, bicycles Tk 4, goats and sheep Tk 4, cows and buffaloes Tk 10 and Rs 6 for rickshaw-van crossing. But the people controlling the stands are taking the passengers hostage and collecting double, triple even ten times more money.
The road adjacent to this important boat stands of Kalapara has been in a dilapidated condition for a long time and people are suffering constantly due to that. In the monsoon season, the roads become muddy and due to the excess mud and water, it becomes almost impossible for any person to walk on foot in such a bad condition.
Md. Monir Hossain, the boat stand lessee at Mithaganj-Badurtali point said that he has leased the boat stand at Tk 1.1 lakh this year. Though the government leases these boat stands to collect revenue, but the stands are not renovated.
Kalapara Upazila Chairman SM Rakibul Ahsan said that authorities will work to resolve any issues after receiving any complaint.
